At 10:08 PM 4/17/00 -0400, you wrote:
>Greetings Soaring Golden Eagle,
>
>Our Outpost (177, Lakeside Assembly of God in Oklahoma City) makes an almost
>annual trek into southern CO for a week long campout. This year we are
>interested in changing a few activities. We'll be skipping the usual rafting
>on the Arkansas River. We'll probably add horseback riding. I'm interested
>if you know any really great places in the Westcliffe area or anywhere in
>southern CO. We'll be hiking, fishing, rapelling, etc. I'm especially
>interested in finding some old mines and hot springs that aren't tourist
>traps. We have already contacted a gentleman named Bob Pace-- he was
>recommended by your District Commander. If you can think of any ideas it
>would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hmmmm....
I'm sure Bob Pace will help you out, but I'll throw in a few ideas.
One of my favorite things to do in Southern Colorado is backpacking and
climbing mountains in the Collegiate Range. I have climbed a couple of the
14,000-foot plus peaks, there, and the view is fantastic. I don't recommend
doing that unless you have worked up to it with the boys, though. Other fun
things to do in the area (well, sort of) are rolling down sand dunes in the
Great Sand Dunes National Monument (and extracting sand from your hair and
ears for a week), exploring the Anasazi ruins at Mesa Verde National Park.
I don't recommend exploring old mines, as they are potential death traps
with the hazards of cave-ins and gas build-ups. If you want to see an
interesting hole in the ground, try The Cave of the Winds in Manitou
Springs. We have taken our outpost there a couple of times, and the boys
enjoy it. It is definitely a tourist trap and a commercial cave, but it is
interesting, nevertheless. More "wild" cave tours for serious spelunkers
off the beaten path can be arranged, there, but I haven't ever done that.
The Focus on the Family Visitor Center in Colorado Springs is nice to stop
in on the way through, if you pass that way. You can have ice cream at
Whitt's End. :-)
Peace to you.
___
Michael Paul Johnson aka Soaring Golden Eagle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://eBible.org/mpj Rocky Mountain Outpost 207 New Creation Church
Jesus Christ is Lord! If Jesus came back today, would you be READY?
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